Fletcher at 80

In Indian folklore, an 80th birthday is not simply a cause for reflection and celebration—it is a life-affirming achievement: after all, a thousand moons have come and gone. The 80th celebration is deeply symbolic, for it marks the moment where the elder had completed his or her duties and officially passed on the responsibility of family security and stability to the next generation.

Together, we all bear responsibility for using this milestone to define the future of The Fletcher School—faculty, students, alumni and administrators. It is a marvelous time to be part of this vibrant community.

The launch of my new blog at Fletcher, “To Know the World,” offers an opportunity to share some thoughts on my own arrival here, as I return to a place where I earned a PhD in the early 1980s, about what I have seen thus far, where I think we are, and what the future may hold.

My own frame of reference was developed as a career Navy officer, including a great deal of time spent at sea and ashore on international missions. In my service in both peace and war in the Balkans, the Caribbean, the Arabian Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Pacific, I realized that economic, political and military structures are fragile and should never be taken for granted. I saw firsthand that a broadly shared ideology for freedom and basic human rights is a powerful weapon and demands changes in economic, political and foreign policy positions. Throughout my Naval service, I often relied upon the lessons learned as a MALD and PhD student at The Fletcher School; the essence of a Fletcher education can be summed up in four words: “To know the world.”

The Fletcher School has evolved and grown significantly since my time as a student here. The many successes and advances the institution has made are due to the unwavering dedication of the faculty, students, alumni and administrators. Leading that team for the past 12 years was Dean Steve Bosworth; the type of leader who was not afraid to take chances, think “around the corner” and embrace change when it made sense to do so. Under his guidance, The Fletcher School developed and implemented new academic programs and courses, including a unique degree program in international business that recognizes that the private sector is integral to the resolution of global issues. Dean Bosworth had a vision for the future that was well and truly realized; and it now falls upon us all to build on his legacy in the years ahead.

Obviously, I will begin my time as Dean by listening carefully to the entire Fletcher community. My initial sense is that in this 80th year, we should think about some of the following:

Creating more opportunities for students and faculty from around the world to enjoy the Fletcher experience. We will aggressively recruit the best and the brightest from around the globe, and work hard to provide financial aid. We want our students to “know the world” and indeed ultimately to “change the world.”

Increasing our integration with Tufts University, especially through partnerships with other graduate schools in the University.

Exploring new and creative ways to engage in public-private partnerships, working both with governments and the commercial private sector.

Continuing to innovate and expand our distance learning program degrees, which are clearly on the cutting edge of such programs today. We should explore further ideas using the benefits of new technologies.

Ensuring that The Fletcher School remains a premier research institution in international relations, and that the fruits of our research are used in helping the world move forward on key issues.

Considering international partnerships with other leading graduate schools and universities in other nations to enhance civil society, exchange ideas and build bridges for the future.

Exploring emerging issues in international relations, including cyber, strategic communications, the Arctic, biosciences, environmental challenges and the like.

As I walk the campus and observe our future leaders engaged in discussion and debate with our faculty, I know we are passing on important lessons. At Fletcher, we subscribe to the philosophy that collective thinking and working together is always smarter than any one individual thinking alone—and I think we prove it every day.

It has been said that a “leader is a dealer in hope.” Indeed, I am very hopeful about the international environment—for all our challenges—and about this historic Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. I believe that with a collegial and empowered team of students, faculty, alumni and administrators, The Fletcher School will remain a global leader in international relations. I am proud to be part of the team!

Many thanks to Natesh Rao, GMAP’12, for his suggestions and the Indian image of the 80th year for The Fletcher School.

2 Responses to Fletcher at 80

I love Fletcher School very much as I hope to join and pursue MALD next year, I loved this article and will share it on my Facebook profile so that all my friends can learn about this amazing school.
Nelson Mandela said that education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. What you are doing at Fletcher has a lot of impact on the world as you are equipping future leaders with skills to tackle global challenges such as global warming, conflict resolution, peace building and how to be effective business leaders.The task ahead is not easy but I believe that you are qualified and well able to over come all the obstacles.Know that there are many people watching you as they see a role model in you despite being miles away.
Keep up the good work as you are shaping powerful leaders.

Tabitha Mwangi from United States International University-Africa in Nairobi.

[…] will also provide us with a window into his thoughts about the School. Check out his first blog post and video. Dean Stavridis is well connected through social media, and invites you to engage with […]

Dean Stavridis with his basset hound, Lilly.

Dean James Stavridis is the 12th leader of The Fletcher School since its founding in 1933. A retired Admiral in the U.S. Navy, he led the NATO Alliance in global operations from 2009 to 2013 as Supreme Allied Commander.